Levi Bellfield, one of the UK’s most notorious criminals, has had his civil partnership blocked after a new law was implemented to prevent serious offenders from getting married while in prison. Bellfield, known for abducting and murdering 13-year-old Milly Dowler, as well as killing Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, is currently serving two whole-life sentences and is ineligible for release. Despite his heinous crimes, he became engaged to a female visitor two years ago, sparking public outrage at the prospect of him getting married behind bars.
Bellfield managed to challenge previous attempts to prevent his wedding, reportedly receiving substantial legal aid to argue his case on human rights grounds. However, the Ministry of Justice made it clear that they were determined to change the law to ensure that individuals like Bellfield could not benefit from marrying while serving time in prison. In response to Bellfield’s attempt to get married, the government swiftly introduced legislation under the Victims and Prisoners Act, specifically targeting killers serving whole-life orders.
The new law, which went into effect recently, prohibits individuals serving whole-life orders from getting married or entering into civil partnerships while in prison. This legal change directly impacts more than 70 convicted individuals, including notorious criminals such as Rose West, Wayne Couzens, and Lucy Letby. The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, emphasized the importance of ensuring that victims and their families are not subjected to additional pain by witnessing perpetrators of heinous crimes enjoy moments that were stolen from their loved ones.
Mahmood stated that victims should not be tormented by seeing individuals who committed depraved acts have the opportunity to celebrate milestones like marriage while serving life sentences. The introduction of the new law aims to provide support to victims and prioritize their wellbeing over the desires of criminals. While the justice secretary will have the discretion to allow ceremonies in exceptional circumstances, the overall focus remains on preventing offenders from accessing privileges that can cause further distress to victims and their families.
The controversy surrounding Levi Bellfield’s blocked civil partnership illustrates the ongoing debate about the rights of serious offenders versus the needs of victims. The implementation of the new law reflects a commitment to prioritizing the well-being of victims and ensuring that individuals convicted of heinous crimes do not benefit from certain privileges while serving their sentences. While the government’s intervention has sparked controversy, it is ultimately aimed at providing support and justice to those who have suffered at the hands of criminals like Bellfield.
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